CARRYING the Australia flag at the closing ceremony on the Gold Coast in 2018 might have marked the end of Kurt Fearnley's international racing career, but his association with the Commonwealth Games will continue.
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The Carcoar native has been appointed to the Australian team executive for the 2022 Games in Birmingham.
"I've had some amazing Commonwealth Games experiences, so I'm looking forward to remaining involved and assisting where I can," Fearnley said.
Amongst those amazing moments Fearnley had at the Commonwealth Games were winning a gold medal in his final race in Australian colours.
It came in his pet event - the men's T54 marathon - which was conducted at the Commonwealth Games for the first time on the Gold Coast.
That was one of two Commonwealth Games gold medals Fearnley won in his career, adding to his win in the T54 1,500 metres at Delhi in 2010.
He also claimed silver in the 1,500m on the Gold Coast and at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.
Fearnley joins former star netball Sharelle McMahon in being appointed to a leadership position.
"They are already great ambassadors for Australian sport and the team in Birmingham will certainly benefit from their leadership," Australia's chef de mission Petria Thomas said.
"Sharelle and Kurt both bring an enormous amount of experience and insight and they are both great Australian champions that our team will greatly benefit from.
"The respect they command within the Australian sporting community is immense and as a collective, our team executive can help establish the standards and expectations for the way the team conducts itself."
The Birmingham Games, which are set to commence on July 27, 2022, are set to feature the largest ever para-sport program to run in conjunction with events for able bodied athletes.
